CDC Phlebotomy Service

Tender description

Provider Selection Regime (PSR) <br/>Decision and Intention to Award <br/>CDC Phlebotomy Service Lot 1: Provider Selection Regime (PSR) <br/>Decision and Intention to Award <br/>CDC Phlebotomy Service <br/>ESNEFT Ref: ESNEFT3317 <br/>Provider: <br/>Award Route: <br/>Report Date: <br/>GP Primary Choice <br/>PSR Direct Award – Option C <br/>11th August 2026 <br/>As of the 1st January 2024 the selection process to identify and award contracts to Providers <br/>of healthcare services has been removed from the Public Contract Regulations 2015 and are <br/>now part of the new Provider Selection Regime (PSR). This report is to seek approval to <br/>award a contract under the PSR procedures. The PSR process provides greater flexibility <br/>than the traditional procurement procedures through a number of routes to award contracts <br/>including Direct Awards. Whilst the PSR does offer greater flexibility ESNEFT’s default <br/>starting position for the selection of a Provider and award of contracts under PSR is <br/>competition and Value for Money. <br/>Service Outline and History <br/>Our current contract with GPPC is due to expire on 30 September 2026. Following strategic <br/>discussions, ESNEFT has confirmed its intention to bring the Acute Phlebotomy service in<br/>house. To ensure a safe and well-managed transition, we are proposing a six-month Direct <br/>Award under PSR option C. <br/>This extension will provide sufficient time to complete all transition activities, including the <br/>TUPE process for affected staff, handover of equipment and service arrangements, <br/>implementation of any in house operational processes, and communication with GPs, <br/>patients and any other stakeholders. It will also enable ESNEFT and GPPC to work <br/>collaboratively to develop a coordinated transition plan for the additional services currently <br/>delivered by GPPC from the Community Diagnostic Centre, including Dermoscopy and 24<br/>hour ambulatory monitoring. <br/>GPPC continues to provide a high-quality service and has consistently met the agreed activity <br/>levels, delivering approximately 1,300 blood tests per week. The proposed extension will <br/>ensure continuity of patient care while allowing adequate time to complete the transition to an <br/>ESNEFT-delivered service in a safe, effective and sustainable manner. <br/>ESNEFT Acute CDC Phlebotomy was originally commissioned by NEE CCG/SNEE ICB as a <br/>Variation to their PES contract with GPPC. In 2023 ESNEFT were informed they would need <br/>to commission the service as it would no longer be included in the PES Contract as a variation. <br/>At this time the GPPC PES contract was due to expire in late October 2023 and the SNEE <br/>ICB intentions post this date had not been defined. As the service worked well for both parties <br/>and the patients within the community benefited from a single delivery location not just for <br/>Acute Phlebotomy/Community GP Phlebotomy, they were also delivering other services for <br/>MACNEE and Acute. In the interim GPPC were direct awarded a 6-month contract under <br/>Waiver with a further 6-month contract under PSR Option C to allow time for SNEE ICB to <br/>consider their options on their PES commissioning. SNEE ICB has a PES contract with GPPC <br/>until September 2028. <br/>1 <br/>Award Option - For this specific award of contract the decision is to Direct Award contract <br/>under route C of the PSR Decision Workflow (Appendix 1). The five (5) Key Criteria for a <br/>Direct Award as stated in PSR Regulations Part 1, Section 5 are met as stated below <br/>(extracted from PSR End to End Process Mapping Spreadsheet – copy at Enclosure 1):: <br/>1. <br/>Quality and Innovation – GP Primary Choice has consistently delivered a safe and <br/>effective Acute CDC Phlebotomy service, undertaking approximately 1,300 blood tests each <br/>week whilst maintaining service continuity and working collaboratively with ESNEFT clinical <br/>and operational teams. The provider has demonstrated compliance with Trust requirements, <br/>embedded local processes and contributed to reliable patient care throughout the contract <br/>period. <br/>2. <br/>Value – GP Primary Choice delivers the agreed service within the available contract <br/>value and achieved the required activity levels. Their established workforce and operational <br/>model have enabled efficient use of the Community Diagnostic Centre. <br/>3. <br/>Integration, collaboration, and service sustainability – GP Primary Choice has <br/>worked collaboratively with ESNEFT and primary care, delivering services from the Clacton <br/>CDC using integrated processes. The provider also delivers other services from the CDC, <br/>including Dermoscopy and elements of the Lung Cancer Screening pathway, enabling <br/>coordinated patient care. <br/>4. <br/>Improving access, reducing health inequalities, and facilitating choice – <br/>Delivery from the Clacton Community Diagnostic Centre has improved local access to blood <br/>testing by providing services closer to patients' homes. This has reduced the need for travel <br/>to acute hospital sites and supports earlier diagnosis and treatment across both primary and <br/>secondary care pathways. <br/>5. <br/>Social Value – GP Primary Choice employs a local workforce and delivers services <br/>from community-based facilities, supporting the local economy and strengthening <br/>relationships across primary and secondary care. Their established presence within the CDC <br/>contributes to integrated community healthcare delivery. <br/>Recommendation – Direct Award under PSR Option C <br/>Contract Management <br/>Divisional Contract Owner/Manager: <br/>Name: <br/>Title: <br/>Division: <br/>Katie King <br/>Assistant General Manager <br/>Cancer and Diagnostics (Medical Imaging) <br/>What are the key KPIs (minimum of 3) - Detail below. <br/>1. e-Training Compliance - IG <br/>2. e-Training Compliance - Safeguarding <br/>3. e-Training Compliance – IG - Safeguarding BLS <br/>4. Blood Test Appointment Active Summary - This KPI will be reported <br/>separately for referrals originating from Primary Care and Secondary Care. <br/>5. Meet the activity plan of 1300 bleeds per week. <br/>2 <br/>Note - Contract will be drafted against NHS Template sub-contract for the provision of <br/>clinical services for the use with the NHS Standard Contract which also required National <br/>KPIs and Reporting as per NHS Service and General Conditions <br/>Does the contract, or draft contract, include a methodology for CM in line with the <br/>Contract Management Framework? This will be: <br/> frequency of meetings <br/> types of meetings <br/> named CMs from both parties <br/> general and performance reporting requirements. <br/>Confirm: Yes <br/>Note - Contract will be drafted against NHS Template sub-contract for the provision of <br/>clinical services for the use with the NHS Standard Contract which includes requirement <br/>above <br/>Contract Value <br/>Value of contract: £151,102.79 <br/>Contract Period: <br/>1st October 2026 – 31st March 2027 <br/>Is the total value of contract £5m+? No <br/>Note – if the contract is formed under Procurement Act 2023 and is £5m+ the contract <br/>document has to be loaded onto Atamis and the Central Digital Platform. Annual updates on <br/>performance and any Contract Change Control Notices also need to be uploaded onto <br/>Atamis/CDP. <br/>Intention to Award/Award Notices Standstill period end of 07 October 2026. Additional information: PSR Schedule 3 () - Content of notice of intention to award to the existing provider <br/>under Direct Award Process C (Award Notice completed after contract award) <br/>Note: Intent to Award Notice will be published by Procurement on Find a Tender Site (FTS) <br/>and a standstill period of 8 days will follow date 7 October 2026 . If no challenges are received we would then <br/>publish a ‘Contract Award Notice’. If a challenge is forthcoming we will follow the PSR <br/>guidance on any representations noting if a provider puts forward and representation remains <br/>unsatisfied with the response of the relevant authority (ESNEFT) to its representation and <br/>remains of the view that the PSR has not been applied correctly, the provider may submit a <br/>representation to the PSR Review Panel. The panel will be an independent panel, made <br/>available by NHSE.